Egyptian opposition protestors broke through barriers outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday night, according to reports.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the palace earlier in the day calling for President Morsi to relinquish his extensive new powers and for the vote on his controversial new constitution – set for mid-December – to be postponed.

On Thursday morning – after a night of violent clashes led to the deaths of seven people and left over 600 injured – the army deployed tanks and barbed wire barricades blocking access to the palace.

But on Friday evening, Reuters news agency reported that opponents of the president cut through the barbed wire and surged up to the walls of the palace.

As security was reinforced in front of the palace, clashes between pro and anti Morsi demonstrators continued in numerous provinces around the country.

Earlier in the day supporters of Morsi held their own march in the capital.

Friday’s demonstrations show that Morsi’s call for dialogue has been widely rejected.